Sunday, November 10, 2013

Learning Paths Model: How Do You Depict Learning Today?

We know that learning is a life-long endeavor.

We understand that we travel multiple learning paths, and on each path we find ourselves in different positions. For some paths we excel and move quickly, and for others we struggle and move slowly.

How would you depict your learning path life?  How do accelerate and enrich the paths that are most meaningful to you, and how to you coach yourself along that paths that are necessary, but challenging and cumbersome?

As you teach, how do you help students understand the multiple paths in their learning life, and the role they play when it comes to moving along those paths?  How do you engender a sense of team and collaboration when it comes to respecting and assisting each individual's path profile, needs, and success?

Teaching today, more than ever before, is an act of coaching children to travel paths of learning success. As you think about that, how would you draw a diagram that depicts the paths you support and direct with children?  I've made a first attempt below.  Let me know what you think, or share you're own illustration.

How could I draw this so that I also reflect the interdisciplinary nature of paths, the way paths intersect to effect growth and synthesis?  Also note that the lines should be wavy--learning is not a straight path. 

Note: It would be interesting to have children draw a picture of what they think learning is, then share the illustrations and talk about the nature, action, and emotion of learning.  I believe that would build capacity.